Bahrain Grand Prix Results/Standings
Hamilton pays penalty
MANAMA, April 16, (AFP): Bahrain Grand Prix results on Sunday:
1. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari), 2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) at 6.600, 3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 20.397, 4. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 22.475, 5. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/ Red Bull-TAG Heuer) 39.346, 6. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams-Mercedes) 54.326, 7. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Force India-Mercedes) 1:02.606, 8. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari) 1:14.865, 9. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1:20.188, 10. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India-Mercedes) 1:35.711, 11. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber-Ferrari) 1 lap, 12. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso-Renault) 1 lap, 13. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 1 lap
Did not finish: Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLarenHonda), Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas), Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull), Carlos Sainz (ESP/
pit-lane incident by braking in front of Ricciardo when he slowed before stopping, congratulated Vettel and thanked Bottas, who moved over to let the Briton through in the closing laps.
“It was definitely costly -- the pit lane incident,” said Hamilton. “It was my fault. I apologise to the team for losing that time there...” Bottas was downcast. “It was a very tricky race for me, struggling for pace throughout, I had tyre pressure problems and then I was rear-limited. It was just over-steering everywhere.”
Ricciardo’s Red Bull team-mate 19-year-old Max Verstappen crashed out of the action after a brakes failure.
Brazilian Felipe Massa finished sixth for Williams, a well-received Easter Sunday birthday gift for team boss Frank Williams who is 75, with
Toro Rosso), Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams), Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber), Fernando Alonso (ESP/ McLaren-Honda)
World championship standings (after three races)
Drivers
1. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 68 pts, 2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 61, 3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 38, 4. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN) 34, 5. Max Verstappen (NED) 25, 6. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 22, 7. Felipe Massa (BRA) 16, 8. Sergio Pérez (MEX) 14, 9. Carlos Sainz (ESP) 10, 10. Romain Grosjean (FRA) 4, 11. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 4, 12. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 3, 13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) 2, 14. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) 2
Constructors
1. Ferrari 102 pts, 2. Mercedes-AMG 99, 3. Red Bull 47, 4. Force India 17, 5. Williams 16, 6. Toro Rosso 12, 7. Haas 8, 8. Renault 2.
Sergio Perez taking seventh for Force India.
Romain Grosjean battled through to take eighth for Haas ahead of Nico Hulkenberg of Renault and Esteban Ocon in the second Force India.
On a significantly cooler day, with a strong wind, the temperatures fell to 25 for the air and 30 degrees Celsius shortly before the race when Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne withdrew after yet another engine failure with his McLaren Honda, his third of the weekend and the team’s fourth. There were two spectacular crashes. Verstappen crashed out of the race on lap 12 with brake failure and as Vettel charged through the field, Mercedes were thrown a potential lifeline when Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz and Canadian rookie Lance Stroll of Williams collided at Turn One.
A deflated Bottas admitted that he felt very disappointed to be asked to let his Mercedes team-mate Hamilton to pass him during Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
The 27-year-old Finn had started the race from his maiden pole position, but lacked competitive pace and struggled with his rear tyres on his way to finishing third behind Ferrari’s victorious Sebastian Vettel and Hamilton.
“You know, honestly, as a racing driver it is the worst thing you want to hear,” said Bottas.
“But that’s how it is and although I didn’t like it for my personal race, I am a team player and I understand.”
Team radio messages suggested Bottas was given instructions to let Hamilton pass him in the closing stages of an incident-filled race at least three times.
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates on the podium with his trophy after winning the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix, at the Formula One Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain on April 16. (AP)